In just six days, the Salt Spring Island Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Relief Fund has reached $114,803. Funds are currently being directed toward local charities with urgent needs.

As a consequence of the strong community response, the Foundation has increased the fund’s goal to $200,000. Foundation Board Chair Brian Lawson says, “The needs are large and complex, but we can meet the challenges ahead. We feel confident we can achieve this target.”

The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation, which has supported agriculture and food security on Salt Spring for many years, has donated $10,000 to the fund. Island Savings Credit Union has contributed $2,500, in addition to supporting food banks through its own signature program, The Full Cupboard.

Lawson says, “We so much appreciate their compassion and support. We have surpassed the target of $100,000 in only a few short days since launching the fund and are grateful for the generosity of the entire community. This will help our charities to continue to do their important work in increasingly difficult circumstances.”

The most recent contributions are in addition to a $50,000 donation from Country Grocer and Upper Ganges Liquor Store, a $5,000 CRD grant, $20,000 from the Foundation and $29,800 from community members.

Donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund may be made at ssifoundation.ca or by mail to: Salt Spring Island Foundation, Box 244, Ganges PO, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2V9. Please indicate on your cheque that the donation is to be directed to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund.

Grants from the fund will focus on community health-care preparedness, relief or assistance for vulnerable people in our community, such as seniors, and other pressing community needs as they emerge. The fund will operate on the basis of urgency and flexibility for the coming weeks, but will also assist charities as long as need remains, even beyond the peak of the crisis.

The Foundation is inviting immediate applications from charities acting on their own behalf or acting on behalf of a not-for-profit organization. For full information, please visit ssifoundation.ca or contact the Foundation’s Operations Director, Shannon Cowan, at shannon@ssifoundation.ca.

While the Salt Spring Island Foundation is assisting with needs in the wider community, the Foundation also encourages community members to support the Lady Minto Hospital directly at ladymintofoundation.com/covid-19